Applicator



Aug. 15, 1944.

W. M. KNIGHT APPLICATOR Filed May 8, 1942 ZVENTOE W/L/A/Vl M KN/GHT @j 6&1, @ik

Patented Aug. 15, 1944 william M; Knight, Minneapolis, Minn. Therese M.'Knight, executrix of said William M.' Knight,`

deceased, assignor to The Personal `Products Corporation, New Brunswick, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 8, 1942, Serial No. 442,151

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in applicators, and more particularly to applicators adapted for the application of medicants and catamenial .devices 'or 'tampons `into the vagina, cervix, and other uterine organs.

An object of theinvention isto provide such an applicator by means of which a tampon may neatly, quickly and conveniently be applied by the person receiving treatment, or by others, and which appliance is so constructed that it may readily be removed from the vagina without danger of removing the tampon therewith.

A further object is to `provide an applicator of simple and inexpensive construction, which readily lends itself to manufacture in large quantities,

and whereby it may economically be discarded or disposed of after use.

A further object is to provide such an appliance which, in addition to providing means for applying a tampon, also serves to provide a holder or container for a tampon, prior. to its insertion into ra cavity.

A `further andmore'speciflc object of the invention is to provide an applicator ofthev class described, comprising a normally tubular body adapted to contain a tampon, saidbody having an opening in its wall through which the usual cord of the tampon projects, and by means of whichthe tampon may be conveniently moved forwardly in the applicator and projected from one end thereof, in position for insertion,after which a portion of the wall of the applicator may be collapsed, or folded inwardly back of the e tampon,'in such a manner that `one end;v of said inwardly folded wall portion will provide an abutment or seat for the tampon to supportit in fixed relation in the applicator, while the tampon is inserted into the vagina by manipulation of the applicator.

A further object is to provide an applicator of the class described, which may readily be made of inexpensive material, such as paper stock, and which is so constructed that the tampon normally concealed therein,'may readily and conveniently beprojected from one end ofthe applicator to a position for application, vwithout touching the tampon with-the fingers. 4

Other objects of the invention will appear 4from the following description and -accompanying drawing and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

' In the accompanyingdrawing there has been f disclosed a structure designed to carrir out the various objects of the invention, but it is `to be understood that the invention (is not confined to the exactfeatures shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawing:

Figure 1-is a perspective view of my improved applicator, showing a tampon supported therein with its cord projecting through the opening in the wall of the applicator;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure `1, but4 showing the tampon projected from the applicator;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure2, andadditionally showing a portion of the wall of the ap-v plicator collapsed, or inwardly foldedv toprovide an abutment or seat for the tampon to support it in position inthe applicator during application;

, Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showi `ing the tampon seated against the inner end of .'8-8 of Figure 7.

the inwardly foldedwall portion of the applicator;

`Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5--5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6l is a view showing an applicator of slightly modified construction and showing the The novel applicatorherein disclosed, is shown `comprising a normally tubular body 2, which preferably is Aopen at both ends, asshown.. A feature of the invention resides in the simple and inexpensive construction of `thedevice, whereby .i `itmay be economicallydiscardedor disposed of Vafter use, and it is therefore preferably constructed of cardboard or some other suitable inexpensive material.

The device,as herein shown, serves a dual purpose, in that it serves as a container or protective covering for a tampon `3,\before use, as shown in Figure "l, and .as a'n applicator for supporting the tampon duringapplication, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The overall lengt of the'body 2cof the applicator is preferably equal to or greater than `the length of the tampon SVWhereby the tampon rmay readily be, supported within the confines of the applicator beforeuse, `as clearly illustrated in Figure l. When packed for the trade, each applicator is preferably provided with atampon, and the applicator andtampon suitablywrapped, to facilitate handling.

y To apply the tampon, the tampon isprojected from one end of the applicator, as shown in Figures 2 to 4. To thus project the tamp n from the applicator, a suitable opening 4 is pro, ided in the wall of the applicator, through which the free end 5 of the usual withdrawal cord 6 of the tampon normally projects, as shown in Figure l. The opposite end of the cord 6 is suitably secured to the inner or bottom end of the tampon, as is well known. To project the tampon from the applicator, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the free end 5 of the tampon cord is grasped and a pull exerted thereon, whereby the tampon is relatively moved in the tubular body 2, from the position shown in Figure l to that shown in Figure 2. Outward movement of the tampon is limited by the cord 6 engaging the upper edge 'I of the opening 4, as best shown in Figure 2. The upper edge I of the opening 4 is spaced downwardly from the upper end of the applicator a suitable distance whereby the tampon cannot be completely removed from the applicator, by pulling on the cord 6. Also, by thus downwardly spacing the upper edge 'I of the opening 4, the lower end of the tampon is adequately supported in the applicator, whereby it may readily be inserted into the vagina without danger of becoming prematurely detached from the applicator during application.

Means is provided to prevent retraction of the tampon in the applicator, during the operation of applying the tampon. To thus prevent retraction of the tampon, a portion of the wall of the applcator, generally designated by the numeral 8, is adapted to be bent or folded inwardly to a position within the connes of the tubular body 2 of the applicator, as illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5.

To facilitate thus inwardly folding the wall portion 8, suitable score lines 9, I and II are provided in the tubularwall of the applicator, whereby the wall portion 8 may readily be folded inwardly to the position shown in Figure 5, along predetermined lines, after the tampon has been projected vfrom the applicator. The lower edge I2 of the opening 4 constitutes the upper edge of the wall portion 8. The edge I2 is shown disposed in right angular relation to the axis of the body 2, and when the wall portion 8 is inwardly folded,

serves as an abutment or a limit stop for limiting relative inward or retractional movement of the tampon in the applicator, during application of the tampon, as will be readily understood by reference to Figure 4.

When the wall portion 8 of the applicator is inwardly folded or collapsed, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the Ilower end portion I3 of the applicator may readily be grasped by the fingers while inserting the tampon in the vagina. After insertion of the tampon, the applicator may readily be withdrawn from the tampon without danger of disturbing the position of the tampon in the vagina, the cord 6 of the tampon readily and freely passing through the opening 4 in the wall of the applicator, during such withdrawal of the applicator.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8, there is shown an applicator of slightly modified construction, comprising a tubular body I5 similar to the one shown in the previous i'lgures. 'Ihe body I5 has a longitudinally extending slot I6 in its wall which extends upwardly from the bottom thereof and terminates in a transverse slot I'I adjacent the upper portion of the body.

' The tampon 3 is normally positioned in the cylindrical body I5, as shown in Figure 6, with its withdrawal cord 6 disposed in the slot I 6. 'I'he free end 5 of the cord 6 projects from the ap- 4wall portion I8 of the applicator body is depressed or bent into the body I5 of the applicator, as shownl in full lines in Figure 8, whereby the upper edge I9 thereof provides an abutment for the lower end of the tampon as will be readily understood, whereby the tampon may be readily applied Without danger of it receding into the applicator. The wall of the body I5 may be provided with a suitable score line 20, to facilitate bending said wall. The lower end of the applicator body with the wall portion I8 bent inwardly, as shown in Figures 7 and-8, will provide a convenient grasp for the ngers in the operation of applying the tampon.

By utilizing the applicator as a container for the tampon, the entire assembly may be sterilized and neatly wrapped in Cellophane or some other protective enclosure, as individual units, in which condition they may be dispensed to the trade. Because of the compactness and inconspicuousness of the device, when wrapped for the trade, it may readily be carried in a purse without inconvenience and embarrassment. I'he inexpensive construction and low cost of the complete device, also makes it possible to place the device on the market at a moderately low cost.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects of my invention, and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modied, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention: 1. A disposable applicator for a vaginal tampon comprising a tubular cardboard body adapted to containand support a tampon having a withdrawal cord attached thereto, the wall of said 4body having an opening therein adjacent one end through which the free end of the tampon cord may project to facilitate projection of the tampon from said body by exerting a pull on said cord and longitudinally disposed score lines in said tubular body extending from said opening toward the other end of said body whereby a portion of the wall of said body may be folded inwardly into a position to engage the inner end of the tampon following partial projection thereof to prevent retraction of the tampon into said body during insertion thereof and upon application of pressurel upon the outer end of said tampon.

2. A disposable applicator for a vaginal tampon comprising tubular body of crushable disposable material adapted tocontain and support a tampon, means for projecting the tampon from one end of said body, a portion of the wall of said tubular body being provided with an L shaped slot to permit inward movement of a portion of said wall to provide an abutment for the tampon lfollowing partial projection for preventing retraction of the tampon into said tubular body upon insertion of the tampon and upon pressure int spaced longitudinal score lines extendingP toward the opposite end of said body to facilitate movement of a portion of a wall of said tube into position to engage the inner end of a partially projected tampon held within the first mentioned portion of said body and prevent return movement of the tampon into the body when the tampon is being inserted and pressure is applied to the tampon tending to retract the tampon into l0 the applicator.

WM. M. KNIGHT. 

